Ben Crosland Quintet - Solway Stories

'Solway Stories' is a collection of twelve original compositions by bassist and composer Ben Crosland that features the stellar line up of long-time collaborators Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn and Steve Lodder on piano and keyboards, together with Chris Allard on guitar and Dylan Howe on drums.

The music was inspired by his 1988 visit to the beautiful area of South West Scotland, bordering the Solway Firth. I was captivated by the gorgeous landscape and engaging place names - Beeswing, Carsethorn, Islesteps and Powfoot, explains Crosland. I decided to write a set of pieces inspired by our trip and wrote those names down on a sheet of paper which I duly filed away.

In November 2018 a chance viewing of Richard Thompson performing his song 'Beeswing' on YouTube reawakened the memory of the trip and Crosland set about the compositional project imagined all those years before. Crosland has revisited Solway Firth and his research into its rich history has shaped many of the compositions on 'Solway Stories'.

Ben Crosland has been leading bands for over 30 years. He has recorded a series of critically acclaimed albums, released on his independent Jazz Cat label, with the cream of UK jazz musicians including Alan Skidmore, Dave O'Higgins, Jim Mullen, Mark Nightingale, Steve Waterman, John Etheridge, Martin Shaw, Steve Lodder and Barnaby Dickinson.